Ebbw Vale 19 vs Pontypridd 5

Fri 9th February, 19:15, Eugene Cross Park

Principality Premiership

The home side took an early lead as outside half Dorian Jones kicked a penalty after Pontypridd were penalised at a scrum.

Ponty responded by building phases and then worked the ball into Ebbw’s twenty-two courtesy of a penalty kick to touch. From the ensuing lineout Ceri Sweeney found a gap, feeding lock Chris Dicomidis to cross out wide.

Another penalty by Ebbw outside half Jones saw the lead change hands again early in the half.

The visitors’ front row was struggling at the scrum and when they were once more penalised Dorian Jones hoisted a long range penalty between the posts. With Ebbw on the attack again and looking threatening the referee brought a halt to proceedings and sin binned their scrum half Dai Jones for an infringement at the breakdown.

Ponty’s scrum finally started to click and with them applying pressure up front the referee had no choice but to penalise the home side and dispatch prop Robert Sevenoaks to the sin bin. On both occasions despite having an extra man the visitors could not capitalise to create any scoring opportunities. The sin-binning turned out to be the last significant action of the first half with Ebbw going in at the break 9pts to 5 ahead.

At the start of the second half Ponty themselves were reduced to fourteen men when prop Corey Domachowski was issued a yellow card as the referee’s patience ran out after another scrum wheeled the wrong way.

Ponty had started the second half confidently but it was against the run of play that the home side scored a breakaway try. A chip ahead by the visitors’ full back Dale Stuckey was gathered on half way by Ebbw centre James Lewis who raced clear to touchdown next to the posts. Outside half Dorian Jones converted the try.

The visitors never really threatened the Steelmen’s try line as the game progressed and a well struck long range Dorian Jones penalty further compounded Ponty’s disappointing evening.

Credit was due to Ebbw Vale as their defence remained solid all night and they dominated the breakdown, creating several turnovers to frustrate their opponents. It was the home team who finished strongly in defence to see out the match with a deserved 19pts to 5 victory.